28 COURAGE. 



ance. I tried and kept trying, regardless of failures, 

 doing as well as I could ; and in this way succeeded. 

 The ability to write these pages, such as I have been able 

 to make them, has been learned only by perseverance. 

 This is the quality of true success. It is the quality that 

 tests and determines most truly the strength of the char- 

 acter, and should never be forgotten as a primary and 

 necessary condition of overcoming great difficulties ; and 

 the greater the difficulty, the greater and more gratifying 

 the success. It will not do to be fool-hardy or venture- 

 some, when danger can by a little extra time and care be 

 guarded against. 



COURAGE. 



But a nervous, timid feeling, which the horse can in the 

 least detect, should not be shown in the language or ac- 

 tions. I would not advise taking the chance of driving 

 or riding behind a horse that is nervous and dangerous, 

 liable to kick, lunge ahead against the bit, and get away, 

 because you do not feel afraid, and would not have any 

 one think you cowardly. Think nothing about this. First, 

 remember, no man, nor even several men, can hold a horse 

 that has learned to take the bit and run away. The point 

 is, have you sure control of the horse, should he try to 

 resist you ? If you have not, do not put your strength 

 against his, and expose yourself to trouble and failure, as 

 well as make the horse worse by the experiment. You 

 must be cool, and gain yourself a sure, safe position of 

 control by the proper subjective treatment. It is your 

 own fault if you fail ; and if you fail it will be because 

 you do not get control enough of the horse before you 

 put him to this trial. I see how you are likely to be 

 mixed, by asking how is it possible for you to drive any 

 colt or horse, then, in fifteen or twenty minutes. That is 

 not the point. I am compelled often to take next to des- 

 perate chances ; and, in addition, I know almost to a cer- 

 tainty, as soon as I see a horse, what he is, and what I 

 can do with him in a given time ; consequently I make no 

 mistakes, and succeed. Should I find a horse I could not 

 safely control in that time, I do not chance the trial; 

 I persist or repeat the first course, until I know I have 



